The Far Horizon

Twilight of War

War

Destroyed street in Gaza

Israeli soldiers are still entrenched in Gaza, however in much smaller numbers. And as of now the body of only one hostage remains in Gaza. On Monday Dec 8th the Qatari Al-Jazeera TV station reported that the Red Cross and Hamas would resume searching for the last body, that of hostage police Sgt. Ran Gvili, 26.

Meanwhile, the IDF is hunkered behind the Yellow Line, an arbitrary line drawn on the map of Gaza.

Beyond the yellow line lay Hamas. US President Trump has said that Israel and Hamas would soon move to Phase Two, when an international force patrols Gaza and an international body runs it.

However, according to reports, the Palestinian Authority is to be part of that ruling body. This is something Israel has rejected. Will the Trump Plan ever really gain traction? ask many analysts. Most are highly doubtful.

One of the main sticking points is Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm.

An International Force was to be in charge of that part of Phase two of the Peace Agreement.

However, according to the Times of Israel, on Sunday Dec 7th, speaking to a group of diplomats, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said he doubted that the International Force was capable of disarming Hamas. He said that the job would fall to Israel should the International Force fail.

As of now, Israel keeps a tight rein on the Yellow Line and fires at anyone approaching it. Reportedly two children were killed when they got too close. Others killed have been Hamas terrorists who emerge from the tunnels to attack the Israeli soldiers. One analysts point back in history to Vietnam when seemingly innocent children actually carried bombs.

Last week five soldiers were wounded by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. So the war, while much less intense, is still there, simmering on the back burner.

According to Ynet’s veteran military correspondent Ron Ben Yishai, Israel has, according to senior Israeli officials, entered a “twilight of war” stage. A period marked by a temporary ceasefire and an emerging diplomatic push. The latter, according to Ben Yishai, is intended to stabilize the region after two years of fighting.

Ben Yishai wrote that the transition began on Monday Dec 1st when US President Donald Trump called Israel’s PM Netanyahu. According to senior officials Trump urged Netanyahu to gradually shift from offensive military operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to “diplomacy and confidence building” measures.

“The shift, Trump argued, is necessary to advance the civilian stage of his “20-Point Plan” for Gaza and to work toward a stable, long-term end to hostilities, with the possibility of additional normalization agreements.

Netanyahu is expected to discuss these issues with Trump during a visit to Washington on December 28 or soon afterward.”

Ben Yishai also wrote that a senior security official said that Netanyahu had received similar advice from top IDF commanders who are eager to rebuild the IDF after two years of war.

Also, Ben Yishai reported that Trump seems to be establishing new rules for the postwar period. Ben Yishai wrote that “Israel may continue enforcing ceasefire understandings and applying selective pressure against Hamas and Hezbollah, but mainly through precise, limited airstrikes, not ground maneuvers.

“Under this framework, dismantling terrorist arsenals would be pursued through diplomatic pressure and mediated agreements rather than deep IDF incursions into areas under Hamas or Hezbollah control. Confidence-building steps would be expected from all sides.”

PM Netanyahu (left) US President Trump (right)

Also, Ben Yishai wrote that Netanyahu and Trump have different ideas on the future of Gaza. Netanyahu continues to pursue what he calls “Total Victory” over Hamas in Gaza .

In Ynetnews, Ben Yishai wrote that Netanyahu has dealt with Hezbollah in Lebanon, including demilitarizing both groups and even removing heavy weapons from jihadist groups in Syria. Netanyahu has also called for a 20-kilometer demilitarized zone along the souther border with Syria.

However, according to Ben Yishai, “Without a coordinated framework with Washington that ends active fighting and establishes new security arrangements, the IDF cannot fully pivot from intensive combat to rebuilding and preparing for future threats.”

And, according to the Times of Israel on Monday Dec 8th, the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department said it has treated some 22,000 wounded soldiers, around 63% reservists, since October 7, 2023, 58% treated are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other mental health conditions.

Iron Beam anti-missile system

Also, in a positive development, according to the Times of Israel, the IDF has announced that as of Dec 30th Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” will be delivered to the IDF.

This according to Danny Gold the head of the Israel Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development speaking at the DefenseTech Summit on Monday Dec 1st.

“The Iron Beam laser system is expected to fundamentally change the rules of engagement on the battlefield,” said Gold.

Also speaking at the DefenseTech Summit, Brig. Gen. Benny Aminov, of the Defense Ministry’s military research and development unit, said that the threat of drones crossing Israel’s borders was “moving toward a solution.”

“In recent weeks, we have achieved a technological breakthrough in enemy drone detection, and we are now working on interception solutions using drone-based systems that enable response to swarm scenarios while accelerating the development of new directed-energy weapons,” he said.

Gaza

Hamas Gaza leader al-Hayya, President Trump, Khaled Mashal

The Trump Peace Plan may have hit a wall. According to AP, a statement on Saturday Dec 6th by Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, one of the five members of the terrorist organization’s leadership, Hamas does not plan to disarm, at least until a Palestinian State is established, nor allow an international force to enter Gaza.

This is contrary to the Trump Peace Plan. Reportedly, the US is now considering an alternative plan which would leave Hamas in control of large parts of Gaza.

US President Trump (left) with Palestinian Authority leader Abbas (right)

Also, according to Ynet’s military correspondent Ron Ben Yishai, PM Netanyahu refuses to allow any involvement of the Palestinian Authority in postwar Gaza. Netanyahu also seeks to block Turkish or Qatari involvement in the reconstruction of Gaza.

The Peace Council, announced by President Trump, that will run postwar Gaza has been slow to take shape. As of now few countries have agreed to send troops to patrol Gaza. Ben Yishai wrote that Netanyahu has kept the military option open to clear out Hamas terrorists from Gaza.

North

Lebanese and Israelis meet at Naqoura

According to the Times of Israel, Israel has met the week of Dec 1st with Lebanese officials for the first time in decades to try to work out a peace arrangement.

The meeting was held at the UN peacekeeping force’s headquarters in Naqoura in Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

Israel was represented by the National Security Council Deputy Director for Foreign Policy Uri Resnick. Morgan Ortagus, the US special representative for Lebanon, headed the US delegation, while Lebanon was represented by former ambassador to the US Simon Karam.

According to Haaretz, most Lebanese oppose a war with Israel and favor Hezbollah disarmament.

According to Haaretz, a Gallup poll shows 79% of Lebanese believe that only the Lebanese army should hold weapons, while 86% oppose direct conflict with Israel in support of Palestinians. The poll also found that nearly 2/3rds of Lebanese oppose economic aid to the Palestinians, while 31% support it

However, Hezbollah has refused to give up their arms. Israel has repeatedly attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. This week they struck an arms warehouse near Beirut. And other Hezbollah targets in South Lebanon. Israel claims that Hezbollah, sponsored by Iran, is trying their best to rebuild and launch more attacks against Israel.

The Times of Israel reported that Hezbollah is rapidly rebuilding their arsenal and their political force within Lebanon. And that Hezbollah, a puppet of Iran, will not agree to any disarmament without Iran’s permission.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah was required to vacate southern Lebanon, while Israel was given 60 days to do so. The IDF later withdrew from all but five posts along the border with Lebanon, citing the incomplete dismantling of Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the country’s south.

IDF hits Hezbollah arms depot in Lebanon

In addition to hundreds of airstrikes amid the ceasefire, the IDF said ground troops have conducted over 1,200 raids and other small operations in southern Lebanon, mostly in areas surrounding the five “strategic” border posts, to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its capabilities.

Meanwhile, according to the Times of Israel, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday accused Israel of “exporting crises” to other countries around the region in order to distract from its “horrifying massacres” in Gaza.

West Bank

West Bank IDF check point near Hebron

Last Monday, Dec 1st, another soldier was lightly wounded in a car-ramming attack near Hebron. The assailant was killed during a subsequent attempt to arrest him. Hours later, two soldiers were lightly wounded in a stabbing attack near the northern West Bank settlement of Ateret. That attacker, too, was shot dead.

Also, according to the Times of Israel a Palestinian was shot dead by IDF soldiers on Saturday Dec 6th after accelerating in a vehicle toward the troops, Paratroopers Brigade soldiers who were operating near a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron.

An uninvolved Palestinian civilian who was passing by was also shot dead by the soldiers amid the incident.

Settler attacking Palestinians in West Bank

According to Ynetnews, about 50 masked Jews threw stones at Palestinian vehicles at the Shiloh junction in Samaria. They burned tires on the road and set up a roadblock to stop a Palestinian’s car, then set it on fire on the road. The military is checking if a woman who was sitting in the car was injured from smoke inhalation. After police and military forces arrived, dozens of rioters fled.

IDF troops patrol Palestinian West Bank town

Also, according to the Jerusalem Post, the IDF, Israel Police, and Border Police officers arrested multiple terrorists, weapons dealers, and those suspected of “preparing explosive devices” as part of a large-scale counterterrorism operation in Kalkilya in the West Bank on Thursday November 28th, the military confirmed.

Iran

Israel has arrested yet another citizen for spying for Iran. A rash of arrests have been made over the past few months. Tzvika Brot, the mayor of Bat Yam, has said that a resident of his city was arrested, induced into spying by texts he received on his phone. The mayor said he too has received such texts. They are sent by Iranian agents who have managed to crack security on mobile phones.

According to the Times of Israel, Mayor Brot said that the Bat Yam municipality is working with the Shin Bet to fight the burgeoning phenomenon and is already aware of several residents with ties to Iranian agents.

“The Iranians have come to Bat Yam, and it’s no joke,” he says.

Also according to the Times of Israel, former Israeli Air Force (IAF) commander Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben Eliyahu stated on December 4, 2025, that Israel must either prepare for a full-scale war with Iran, including a ground invasion, or renew economic pressure and negotiations, as the June 2025 Operation Rising Lion campaign delayed but did not destroy Iran’s nuclear program. He emphasized that Iran is learning from the strikes and adapting its missile capabilities, making future threats more sophisticated.

Politics/Judicial Reform

Anti-government rally in Tel Aviv

According to Ynetnews, the weekly protests around the country for the release of hostages has pivoted to anti-government rallies.

Two issues are roiling Israel.

One is the letter Prime Minister Netanyahu sent to President Herzog requesting a pardon.

A few Israeli leaders have said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s interference in Israeli affairs, while sometimes beneficial, like supporting Israel’s war against Hamas, was also sometimes deleterious.

At his appearance in Israel’s Knesset, chaired by Israel’s President Yitzchak Herzog, Trump urged that Israel’s President Yitzchak Herzog grant Netanyahu a pardon for the three felonies he’s now standing trial for. “What’s a few cigars and champagne?” Trump asked while finishing his address to Israel’s Knesset.

US President Trump Addresses Israel’s Knesset

Then Netanyahu wrote a letter to president Herzog requesting a pardon. Observers point out that the president is in a hard place. Some point out that Herzog has his position as president because Netanyahu supported his nomination. Herzog has said he will study the request in detail and decide what is best for the country.

PM Netanyahu (left) President Yitzchak Herzog (right)

However, others, like Jewish Home leader Avigdor Leiberman while praising Trump for his support of Israel thought that the US president should stay out of Israeli politics.

Israel’s President Herzog said, “I respect opinions on Netanyahu’s pardon but Israel is a sovereign country.”

Legal opinion in Israel is that a pardon can only be granted once a guilty verdict or an admission of guilt is entered. Prime Minister Netanyahu has steadfastly refused to admit to any guilt in his trial, that has been on-going for over four-years. Six if the two year investigation leading to three indictments is counted.

Previously, Netanyahu was offered a plea bargain if he would admit guilt and resign while agreeing to retire from political life. On Monday, Dec 7th when asked at a press conference for visiting German PM Friedrich Merz if he planned to accept the plea bargain, admit guilt and retire from public office, Netanyahu said “no.”

Netanyahu also criticized the criminal trial against him. One of the three cases was improper reception of gifts. “It’s absurd, six years of unfounded investigations on these ridiculous charges, and the trial itself has already lasted four years. So I asked for a pardon, we’ll see if it happens. But you wanted to know what this trial is about? Bugs Bunny (a gift his son received) and cigars. Ridiculous.”

The pro Netanyahu Israel HaYom newspaper published results of a poll about Netanyahu’s pardon. The poll shows that the country is evenly divided over the issue.

43% saying that Netanyahu should get a pardon without conditions and 43% in favor of a pardon only if Netanyahu agrees to retire from political life. However, pointed out a pundit, Israel HaYom did not publish any numbers with the question should Netanyahu be denied a pardon.

According to Ynet news a Lazar Research poll shows that a slim majority 37%of Israelis supported President Yitzchak Herzog granting an unconditional pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that 27% would support it only if Netanyahu admits guilt and retires from political life, 21% oppose, and 14% have no opinion.

Ultra-Orthodox Students Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnai Brak

On the Haredi draft issue, nearly half of respondents, 45%, support stripping Knesset voting rights from draft eligible citizens who fail to report for service. Thirty-eight percent oppose, and 17% have no opinion.

Other polls show that a slim majority of the population is against a pardon for Netanyahu. The mother of one of the released hostages demanded that President Herzog turn down the pardon because she said Netanyahu had to stand trial for his crimes.

Another observer points out that while the court has allowed Netanyahu to severely cut down his appearances, he frequently finds excuses not to appear in court at all. Imagine if you or I tried that, the observer said.

The second item roiling the Israeli scene is the attacks by Justice Minister Yariv Levin against the court system.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Association for Public Law in Israel, Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit said that while the “war of Iron swords” (War in Gaza) has ended, “there is no doubt that the attack on the judicial system, on judges and on law enforcement officials, continues with full force.”

High Court President Yitzchak Amit

According to Ynetnews, Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit attacked Justice Minister Yariv Levin in his speech. “An integral part of that campaign to harm the judiciary is the boycott that the Minister of Justice is taking against the President of the Supreme Court. In practice, this is not a boycott against me, Yitzhak Amit, in my role as President of the Supreme Court. The boycott is against the entire judicial system and its role in a democratic society.

“The Justice Minister’s refusal to attend work meetings delays a long list of substantive matters. The Justice Minister’s conduct has one clear purpose, which he himself declared last April: ‘What we have built here over decades takes time to dismantle, it doesn’t end in one day.’ The words speak for themselves,” Amit said.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin (center)

Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded to the harsh criticism directed at him by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, saying that “you place yourself and your colleagues above the law. Everything is permitted for you. Do you expect me to cooperate with this?

“Nevertheless, there was one true thing you said tonight: I am indeed dismantling. I am dismantling brick by brick the fortress of lies that you and your colleagues sit in, but I am also rebuilding the judicial system as it was in its days of greatness under presidents like Landau and Shamgar.”

Earlier, on Wednesday the High Court of Justice ruled that Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s second nomination of an official to supervise the investigation into the Sde Teiman video leak was invalid. At issue was the release by the Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, IDF’s Military Attorney General, of a surveillance video of IDF soldiers allegedly abusing and beating a Palestinian prisoner surveillance video at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The Maj.Gen Yerushalmi, was relieved of her duties and later tried to commit suicide. She was hospitalized, and upon her release arrested for obstruction of justice by leaking the video and held for trial.

Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, IDF’s Military Attorney General,

In a unanimous ruling by the three judges on the panel, the High Court pointed out that in its ruling in November invalidating Levin’s selection of State Ombudsman for Judges Asher Kula to try the case of obstruction of justice against Maj. Gen. Yerushalmi, the High Court gave strict and explicit instructions for who would qualify to supervise the investigation.

In particular, the court noted that its original ruling stated that the investigation supervisor must be a “senior public official,” who is an expert in legal affairs, and whose job is closely connected to criminal investigations or prosecutions.

Levin subsequently picked retired judge Yosef Ben-Hamo to oversee the investigation, but the court ruled against the appointment since retired judges are not public officials in the civil service. Pundits believe that Levin was livid at the high court for turning down both his appointments.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak

Retired Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech at the annual conference on public law and democracy: “Israeli state institutions are seen by him (Netanyahu) as a ‘deep state’ that must be fought against. Partisanship and separatism have replaced statehood and unity.”

Barak also said that Israelis were no longer citizens of Israel but “subjects.” And that Israel was heading towards an autocracy headed by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Former chief justice Esther Hayut on Saturday Dec 6th accused unspecified elected officials of trampling the rule of law as the government pushes to curb the judiciary’s powers and sideline sensitive investigations.

At the annual conference of the Israeli Association of Public Law in Haifa, Hayut said, “One of the most dangerous instances of this is the systematic campaign to de-legitimize the judiciary.”

Antisemitism

Yuval Raphael at 2025 Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision song contest has reversed a decision to deny Israeli artists participation. Still, a number of countries have said they will boycott the contest as long as Israelis are contestants.

Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia withdrew from Eurovision after Israel was cleared to compete.

Anti Israeli protests continue to swirl around the world. A recent protest in Spain included media star and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

Protest in Spain Greta Thunberg (in orange coat)

Meanwhile, outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams has passed a new executive order that bars city officials from taking actions that would “discriminate” against Israel, Israeli citizens or entities otherwise associated with Israel.

According to the Jerusalem Post if incoming NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to permit city officials to take such action, including boycotting Israel, a move Mamdani has long supported, he’ll have to either rescind the executive order or depart from a longstanding city tradition of issuing a blanket extension on executive orders during mayoral transitions.

Also, according to the Times of Israel President Yitzchak Herzog criticized New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, saying he doesn’t hide his “contempt” for Israel.“Recent developments in New York City have raised a red flag,” Herzog says at a gala event in New York City for Yeshiva University,

Editorial

Hard to say where the country is headed. A hairdresser in Modiin, a city of 100,000 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, told a customer that he was in favor of granting Prime Minister Netanyahu a pardon. “What did he do? Nothing! It’s all politics!”

And, a cab driver in Tel Aviv, a pleasant experienced man, had a screen saver of Netanyahu on his mobile phone.

However, recent polls show that as of now Netanyahu’s coalition would not be able to form a new government.

These men, like many Netanyahu supporters, look the other way because bribes are an accepted, even though criminal, behavior in Israel. A example is set by Netanyahu. A disturbing thought.

According to the Jerusalem Post, a recent poll by Maariv showed a majority of Israelis supported the plea for a pardon. Although many conditioned the pardon on Netanyahu’s admission of guilt. 38% back an unconditional pardon, 27% would support it only if Netanyahu admits guilt and retires from political life, 21% oppose, and 14% have no opinion.

The Maariv poll showed Netanyahu’s coalition garnering 53 seats against the opposition’s 57 seats. Neither would have the necessary 61 seats to form a government. Still Netanyahu announced on Friday Dec 5th that his coalition would last until the end of the legal term in the fall of 2026.

MK Ben Gvir (left) MK Smotritch (right)

This because the opposition does not have enough seats in the current Knesset to pass a vote of no-confidence that would cause the collapse of the government.

This situation could change should the ultra-orthodox (Haredi) parties decide that the proposed law allowing Haredi men exemption from serving in the army not go far enough. Or that Netanyahu hasn’t poured enough money into the Haredi institutions, which many see as a payoff for the Haredi votes supporting the government.

Should the Haredi parties allow a vote of no-confidence to pass new elections would be called and Netanyahu’s future would be in question.

A few years ago Netanyahu’s coalition managed to hold off the opposition in four elections, each time coming to a draw forcing yet another exasperating, expensive, and contentious election. Netanyahu’s coalition finally squeezed by on the fifth try. This was enough, however, for the Likud bulldogs to bark that they represented the people. And justified the awful legislation that followed.

Those adamantly against Netanyahu’s coalition are upset by the cabinet ministers that Netanyahu allows to run wild, like ultra-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who as head of the police, allows Arab-Israeli criminals nearly free reign to kill each other. Bringing the death toll in the Arab-Israel community to over 300 for the year; causing citizens and mayors of those towns to cringe in fear.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, also oversees the Israel Prison Service and has publicly boasted about harsh measures implemented against security detainees on his watch. In October he told a Knesset committee that he is proud that jails “have turned into a nightmare for terrorists.”

The Times of Israel quoted an audit published this week by the Public Defender’s Office.saying that inmates who met with agency representatives reported “drastic weight loss and signs of malnutrition.” The audit added that inspectors witnessed that many of the prisoners were very thin, “in some cases to an extreme degree.”

The report cited severe hunger in the prisons, overcrowding, unsanitary cells, and guards who often beat the security prisoners.

Then, along with ultra-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotritch, whose religious zionist party represents the settler movement, there is the sharp increase of settlements , including illegal settlements, in the West Bank.

Add to that the rampant violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Neither the increase in settlements nor the uptick in violence are matters that Ben Gvir has sought to curtail. The more correct terms are Ignore or even support, say critics.

MK Maya Golan (left) PM Netanyahu (center) Justice Minister Levin (right)

And, points out one pundit, let’s not forget Likud MK Maya Golan, who is Minister for Social Equality and Minister for Women’s Empowerment. Recently, a channel 12TV exposé shook her ministry.

According to Ynetnews, on Monday morning Sept 15th, police raided Minister Golan’s office as part of the so-called “cash bonanza” affair, a corruption probe into the alleged misuse of public funds within her ministry.

The investigation began more than six months earlier. In July, Golan was questioned under caution. With the case moving into an open investigation. The police’s Lahav 433 anti-fraud unit arrested an attorney who had worked for Golan and detained several other suspects, conducting searches at their homes. Golan is expected to be summoned for further questioning later this week.

According to Ynetnews, on Monday morning Sept 15th, during a search at the Yavne home of one of Golan’s aides, police discovered a cannabis growing operation inside a designated room. The aide was detained for questioning, and her husband, who reportedly took responsibility for the operation, was placed under arrest.

The case followed a months-long probe that included a television exposé, which alleged that Golan appointed individuals to fictitious positions in exchange for donations to an NGO she ran, misused public funds, and failed to disclose sources of campaign or organizational financing.

Israel TV exposed the fact that she was syphoning off funds from her budget meant to help Arab-Israeli communities into that of National Police Minister Ben Gvir.

MK Golan was also allegedly caught embezzling monies from an NGO into her own bank account. MK Golan refused to submit to police interrogation claiming Knesset immunity. At one point her mother was brought in for questioning and MK Golan spirited her out of the police station before she could be interrogated.

Then there is the new legislation proposed by the Netanyahu government that would limit the freedom of the press, would change the system so that the government has the last word not the High Court, that draft-dodging Haredi men would be able to avoid the draft, and this at a time when Israel needs more soldiers to face the current security threats. And the latest, sponsored by Ben-Gvir, is the death penalty for terrorists.

The list goes on. From the attempts to replace the independent legal system with one controlled by the government, to appointing yes men to all top positions in the government and the army, like the recent appointment of Roman Gofman, military secretary to PM Netanyahu, as head the Mossad. An appointment opposed by current Mossad head Didi Barnea, and others who claim the Mossad is a complex organization that takes years to understand let alone run.

And of course, there’s the state investigation into the causes of the Oct7th massacre. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to admit any blame for that tragedy. He has also ignored calls for a state commission of inquiry into the matter. However, he has said that a new committee will be appointed to investigate the tragedy. And that he would run that committee. One pundit used an old saw, the fox guarding the hen house.

The hairdresser and the cab driver are supportive of Netanyahu. They see nothing wrong, in fact a lot correct, in his behavior. They hold the liberal media in contempt and doubt whatever is reported. On the other hand, those who they deem “leftists” are frantic over the direction the country is going.

One of those “leftists” is a Conservadox (Conservative/Orthodox) former American hi-tech executive who has been in Israel for decades. He mused that he couldn’t wait to see Netanyahu out of office but bemoaned the fact that he didn’t see how that was possible, short of a life-ending illness.

Critics say that Netanyahu wants to keep up the pressure both in Gaza and in the north, preferring to keep Israel on a war footing. This helps his control of the population who see him as their guardian against evil meant to destroy Israel.

Others say that by keeping the war fronts active Netanyahu has an on-going excuse to avoid court appearances at his trial. Netanyahu frequently uses “security concerns” as his reason for avoiding court. His trial for three felonies has been going on for years.

One pundit thought that there was a new dawn on the far horizon but wondered if it was going to bring democracy or subjugation.